You are undoubtedly investing a lot of time and resources into your art business: websites, blogs, social media, newsletters, postcards, and more. As an entrepreneur interested in earning money from your art, you want to understand what’s working and what isn’t.

When I asked him in the interview why in the world a marketing firm would be called WHISPER instead of SHOUT, he replied: “The most important information you can share is whispered one-on-one.” Tweet this

Think about it.

When you take out an ad or post to your blog and social media sites, you are broadcasting to the world. You would love it if thousands of people see your message.

Because of this public forum, the language is less personal than if you were to have a private conversation. And therein lies the power of the whisper.

Anatomy of a Whisper

A client told me she was getting great results for her special sale by contacting people individually,

One of the biggest excuses artists give for not being in more frequent contact with their lists is that they don’t want to bother people. You know what it’s like to receive tons of email and don’t want to contribute to the overwhelm.

I understand. Even though everyone on your list has opted in to hear from you, it still doesn’t feel right to email so many people if you haven’t established a marketing groove.

There’s a solution: Send emails only to people for whom they are appropriate. In other words, target your messages rather than sending every email to every person on your list.

All of the attendees at my Nashville workshop are grouped together on my list. Photo courtesy of Mary Claire Crow

Email marketing platforms like Constant Contact, MailChimp, and Emma have the capability to

Poof! That’s the sound of the pressure vanishing like magic. That pressure of trying to hit a home run when you contact someone about your work. Maybe it’s an email to an interior designer, a meeting with an art consultant, or a letter to a gallerist. You want them to show your art, buy your work, or represent you.

What if, instead of worrying about everyone with a cell phone camera in front of your art, you encouraged taking photos and sharing? Don’t dismiss this right away. Let me explain. On two occasions I have witnessed audiences embrace a speaker or situation that encouraged photography. Here’s how those went down.